Silvio Berlusconi withdraws from race to presidential election in Italy

The vote of the major voters responsible for finding a new President of the Republic must open up to Rome on Monday. The current Chairman of the Board is – for the moment – given as a favorite, but his departure would open a new period of uncertainty.

Le Monde with Reuters

Silvio Berlusconi announced in a press release sent to the press on Saturday, January 22, having decided not to appear in the presidential election in Italy. The former President of the Council, 85, raises an obstacle to the negotiations between the parties before a vote in Parliament to designate the successor of Sergio Mattella, scheduled for January 24th.

The appointment of the current President of the Council, Mario Draghi, is now considered the most likely choice of Parliament, but it is not yet certain that the wide range of parties that support its coalition will support it, of afraid that his departure triggers anticipated elections.

Silvio Berlusconi said he wanted that the former President of the European Central Bank remains at the head of the government until the end of the legislature, in 2023. “I decided to take a step further On the path of national responsibility, asking those who proposed to give up indicating my name for the Presidency of the Republic, “he said.

The right coalition had asked Mr. Berlusconi to report to the presidency. It was unlikely that his candidacy should be successful because of his difficulty in gathering broad support traditionally necessary among the more than 1,000 voters involved in the vote.

Limited but essential presidential prerogatives

Silvio Berlusconi remains a very clevy figure in Italy and the left center camp had already excluded from supporting it. Temporarily excluded from the public service after a conviction for tax evasion in 2013, it is always judged for witnesses’ corruption in a prostitution case of minors.

Neither the right center or left center block have enough voice to impose a candidate for their own camp, which means that a compromise will be necessary to avoid an extended impasse. “We will work with the leaders of the right center (…) to agree on a name that can collect a broad consensus in Parliament,” says Silvio Berlusconi.

SERGIO MATTARELLA wishes, to 80 years, take advantage of his retirement after an hectic term, during which the role of arbitrator that the Italian Constitution entrusts to the President of the Republic was several times highlighted. Elected for seven years by Parliament and 52 representatives of the Italian regions, the President is indeed The first guarantor of respect D u text voted in 1947.

His prerogatives are few – appointment of the President of the Council of Ministers, Validation of the Government, dissolution of the two Chambers of Parliament – but essential in moments of political workmanship.

Theoretically organized every five years, they lead to the constitution of a two-chamber parliament. 630 MPs and 320 senators are then elected, and the party (s) having harvested the most votes must agree on a candidate to hold the position of Chairman of the Council – the equivalent of the French Prime Minister.

Once this application is validated by the President of the Republic, the Chairman of the Board proposes a government team again subjected to the agreement of the Head of State. This one has a right of veto without appeal. If used, the Chairman of the Board may either make new proposals or choose to dismiss his duties. The President is then responsible for appointing himself a new chairman of the board.

If it is validated by the Presidency, the government must then obtain the confidence vote of the two Houses of Parliament, gathered in plenary session. It is only at the end of this procedure that it obtains its full executive powers, more extensive than those of the President.

/Media reports.